UNC Student National Dental Association Chapter Opens “SNDA CAARE’s Clinic” in Durham
In the fall, the UNC Student National Dental Association (SNDA) chapter launched a new clinic for NC residents lacking the ability to get dental care. In conjunction with the non-profit organization CAARE, SNDA student members provide care to patients under the supervision of school adjunct faculty.
The clinic, which is supported completely through donations, primarily supports urgent care adult patients who lack dental insurance, including Medicaid. The scope of care offered includes non-surgical periodontal treatment, simple restorative treatment, basic tooth extraction and standard preventive treatment, like cleanings.
“I am very proud of UNC SNDA and the work members have done in order to give back to our local community,” said Zerita Buchanan, UNC SNDA president and D.D.S. Candidate 2014. “As an organization we are committed to the delivery of quality dental care to all people, with an emphasis on minority and underserved populations. We truly believe that our work at the SNDA CAARE’s Clinic will continue to uphold the mission of our organization and the mission of UNC School of Dentistry.”
SNDA’s efforts to begin this clinic were strongly supported by Dr. Vincent Allison, a 1987 D.D.S. graduate and former UNC SNDA president. Currently, Allison serves as an adjunct faculty member at the school, maintains a membership with the Old North State Dental Society and operates his own private dental practice in Durham. Buchanan also credits the successful launch of the SNDA CAARE’s Clinic to the dedication of four particular SNDA members: D.D.S. Candidates 2013 Kareem Redmond and Natalie Jackson, D.D.S. Candidate 2014 Davia Nickelson, and D.D.S. Candidate 2015 Devinn Geeson. Redmond, Jackson, Nickelson and Geeson serve as clinic coordinators and have spent many hours organizing the logistics behind the clinic while balancing a full course load as dental students.
The SNDA CAARE’s Clinic operates when school is in session on most Tuesday evenings at 214 Broadway Street in Durham. It will be open to see patients through the end of spring semester, with its last session being on April 23. For more information about the clinic, please click here. To send a tax-deductible donation to support the clinic, visit uncsnda.org or mail the donation to 214 Broadway Street, Durham, NC 27701.
CAARE is a grassroots non-profit organization that promotes a holistic and community approach to health. Over the past 17 years, CAARE has sought to address disparities in health care access in Durham.
